Garter



Dec. 29 1925- H. s. PARSONS GARTER Filed March 17, 1925 gwumtom ff. 6. fame/Is Mommy Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED- STATES HOWARD G; PARSONS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 015 COLUMBIA.

GAR/PER.

Application filed March 17, 1925. Serial No. 16,162.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HowARn G. PARSONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Garters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved garter, which is especially, although not necessarily, designed to form an article of apparel for feminine use.

While it is not absolutely essential, the improved garter is particularly adapted for use in association with what may be defined as a three-quarter hose, that is, a hose, the top of which terminates below the knee of the wearer.

As is well known, the commonly marketed ladies hosiery is full length and in warm weather, it is a well-known practice to roll the top of oneshose down over the knee, this apparently being a very desirable custom for the wearer. I have conceived of a'means for enabling substantially the same result to be accomplished, and to, at the same time, eliminate the cumbersome roll.

In carrying out my improved inventive conception, I utilize, as before intimated, an improved garter, and contemplate employing a three-quarter hose, and to detachably connect the garter to the top of the hose, to formulate a unique finishing or topping therefor.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a garter that is of an ornamental appearance for positioning upon the leg of the wearer at the direct upper edge of the three-quarter hose, and surrounding said upper edge of the three quarter hose, having means associated therewith, whereby this edge of the hose may be detachably quickly secured to the garter, through the medium of a securing assembly.

I shall not, at this time, enter into the construction of the new garter, but will first direct attention to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

7 and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a garter, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a portion broken away, to disclose the structure more clearly.

' Figure 2 is a likewise perspective view, showing the ends of the garter disconnected and the parts displayed in a manner to enable the details to be clearly comprehendec l.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the preferred form of hose securing assemblies employed in conjunction with a garter constructed after the manner of the present invention, and

Figure at is a detail vertical section through a garter, showing partially its application to the leg of a wearer, in a manner for securing the three quarter hose in position thereon, directly beneath the knee of the wearer.

Briefly described, the new article of manufacture may be said to embody an adjustable elastic leg encircling band, having detachable ends connected together, when in use, by separable fastening means, there being a pair of substantially diametrically opposite stocking suspenders carried by the band, and an artistic shirred covering of a size to completely conceal the otherwise objectionable details, and to simultaneously produce an attractive appearance.

referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the aforesaid adjustable leg encircling band is actually made up of two sections or stretches of common garter elastic 1 and 2 respectively. These two sections are of substantially the same length and the section 2 may be defined as the front section, while the section 1 may be distinguished therefrom by referring to the same as the rear section. It will be noted, particularly from Figure 2, that the rear section 1 embodies a sliding loop 25 of conventional form, which renders this section adjustable in length. Carried by the free looped end of the elastic section 1 is an appropriate fastener 4, having a hook 5, adapted to be connected with an elongated slot 6, in a novel buckle 7, fastened to the free end of the elastic section 2. Affording a connection between the opposite adjacent ends of the two sections is a corresponding connector or buckle 8. These buckles, as better shown in Figure 3, comprise a frame provided with a central crosspiece 7, and a pair of elongated parallel slots 6. Also, the bottom bar of the frame is bent as indicated at 11 to provide a stud seat. Both of these buckles are equipped with tapes 9 having headed studs 10 adapted to cooperate with the seats 11, in formreference character 12' elastic (not shown), is confined.

attractive article.

ing what may be defined generally as stocking suspenders. It is of course, obvious that the headed studs 10 are simply inserted into the eyes 11, to fasten the stocking therein, in the well known way. It will be noted, however, that these suspenders are proportioned so that they are not any larger than the width of the leg encircling band.

Obviously, it is desirable in an article of this kind to finish it off in a manner to render it as artistic and attractive as possible, without materially increasing the cost. In accordance with my aim, the front section of elastic 2 is entirely enclosed in a shirred silk envelope 12, of more or less conventional design. The section 1, however, is not enclosed, but is simply covered by a separate portion of the shirred material, which may be generally designated by the as a shield.

As shown in Figure 1., the elastic 1 is adapted to bear against the inner surface of this shield. The shield is composed of a shirred silk casing, in which a length of The free end of the shield carries an eye 18, adapted to be hooked over a headed stud 14 carried by the free end of the leg encircling band, as shown better in Figure 2. It will be noted that a rosette or 1ts equivalent is stitched upon the free end portion of the shield 12, and when the garter is in place, this completely conceals the separable fastening means and produces a very neat and In practice, as before intimated, the garter is preferably used in connection with a three-quarter stocking. Assuming that the stocking is in place, the front half of the improved garter is drawn tautly about the corresponding portion of the wearers leg and the suspenders or stocking supporters are connected with the top so that the tapes 9 lie in contact with the person. Here it is to be stated that the fasteners, suspender buckles and the like are preferably made of some non-corrosive material, with the suspenders attached to the stockings at substantially diametrically opposite points. The rear section 1 of the leg encircling band is brought around the corresponding side of the leg and the hook 5 is connected with the slot 6, thus fastening the garter in place. A reasonable degree of adjustment may be made in the section 1 to render the band sufliciently taut. With the band 1 fastened, the shield is now brought around and over it, as indicated in Figure 1, and the eye 13 fastened with the stud 14, thus bringing the rosette 15 in a position to conceal the various separable fasteners. In thisway, the fasteners, of common elastic, and other elements, will be hidden 7 from View, and the garter will have the appear ance of the well known endless garters now universally worn, and when on the stocking,

it will give the latter the appearance of an especially constructed hose with an artistic finishing at the top.

As clearly shown in Figure 4, the garter, in actual use, is disposed upon the leg A of the wearer, at a point directly below the knee portion thereof, at which point the upper end of the well-known three quarter hose B reaches. It will be thus seen that the garter, this point of attachment provides an ornamental topping for the stocking, and in addition thereto, serves as a means for retaining the stocking in proper position upon the leg. In order that the upper edge of the stocking may be firmly secured to the garter construction, the heads 10 of the tabs 9 are employed to secure the stocking at two points thereon, within the stud retaining loops 11 of the frame members, in the hose securing assembly. The provision of one or more of said hose securing assemblies 7 effectively prevents the stocking from working downwardly between the leg encircling construction and the leg A. By referring to Figure 4, it will also be noted that the points of attachment of the stocking to the leg encircling member are substantially within the area of the leg encircled by said member, for thus producing an ornamental effect, which will give the appearance of an ornamental topping for three-quarter hose, and will thereby enable persons to wear this type of hose, which has heretofore been practically an impossibility, due to the lack of any eflicient securing means therefor.

From the foregoing description, it will be deduced that the gist of the invention is the provision of a leg encircling band, of any construction, equipped with one or more stocking suspenders embodying the particular type of buckle defined.

It is thought that the foregoing description, considered carefully with the accompanying drawing, will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates to obtain a clear understanding of the same. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

Even though I have herein shown and described a preferred manner of securing a three-quarter hose upon the leg of a wearer, at a point directly beneath the knee, in order to give an ornamental appearance to the upper edge of the hose, and at the same time to alleviate any space between the upper edge of the hose and the garter, that would otherwise exist, by the provision of some well-known forms of garters now upon the market, I wish it to be distinctly understood that the main feature of this invention resides in the hose securing assembly shown in Figure 3, that may be associated with any form of leg encircling member desired.

It is, however, to be understood, that the particular form of garter shown in this inyention may be employed to fair advantage With any form of leg encircling hose supporting structure.

I claim:

A garter comprising a leg encircling band adapted to surround and completely conceal the upper edge of a stocking, a pair of separate and independent stocking suspending devices attached at the inner face of said band to afford a positive connection between the band and the stocking, each device being of a length less than the width of the band, being attached to the latter in a manner to be completely concealed from View when connected with the stocking, and comprising a stud member and a seat member therefor, said stud member being directly outwardly toward the band.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HOWARD G. PARSONS. 

